EPA Dismisses More Employees Who Criticized Political Leadership

The EPA dismissed roughly 10 more employees who signed a public letter of dissent in June that criticized the agency’s leadership, a union official confirmed Sunday.

The firings are the latest development in an ongoing situation that has worried good government advocates, but heartened supporters of the Trump administration who want the Environmental Protection Agency to be dramatically pared down.

The affected employees had been issued notices of proposed removals in late August, said Justin Chen, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, which represents EPA workers. Five other agency staffers were let go at that time.

Among the affected employees were lawyers, scientists, and communications personnel.

An EPA spokeswoman said Sunday agency supervisors made dismissal decisions “on an individualized basis,” but that the agency doesn’t comment publicly on individual personnel matters.

The letter, addressed to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, claimed the agency has ignored scientific consensus to benefit polluters, turned its back on environmental justice communities, and promoted “a culture of fear, forcing staff to choose between their livelihood and well-being.”

The agency spokeswoman reiterated a previous statement that the EPA has a “zero-tolerance policy for career officials using their agency position and title to unlawfully undermine, sabotage, and undercut the will of the American public.”